Sobhi Batterjee named Middle East Entrepreneur Of The Year 2008

The award was presented to Sobhi Batterjee at a glittering awards ceremony held under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein, and attended by HRH Prince Ali Ibn Al Hussein, at the King Hussain Bin Talal Convention Center on the Dead Sea, Jordan.

A new category, Emerging Entrepreneur Of The Year, was added to the awards this year. It was won by Sheikha Nadia Aldossary, CEO & Partner of Al Sale Eastern Company. Sheikha Nadia was also the first woman to become a finalist of the Middle East Entrepreneur Of The Year awards.

The winners were selected by an independent panel of judges after a gruelling process of evaluation, which included an analysis of the economic and social value added by the finalists to regional development. The judging process was based on the criteria of entrepreneurial spirit, financial performance, strategic direction, global impact, innovation and personal integrity and influence.

Fouad Alaeddin, Managing Partner of Ernst & Young Middle East, said: "We congratulate Sobhi Batterjee on being named the 2008 Middle East Entrepreneur Of The Year. He inspires trust and confidence in his people while being commended for his vision and acumen by his peers. We wish him all the success in his ambitious drive to achieve his dreams."

He added:

"Nadia Aldossary is a true leader and a business role model for women. We are proud to have her as the first ever woman finalist for the Middle East Entrepreneur Of The Year."

Sobhi Batterjee will join Entrepreneur Of The Year award winners from over 50 countries at a black-tie event at Monte Carlo in June of 2008, where he will be inducted into the World Entrepreneur Of The Year Academy and will vie for the World Entrepreneur Of The Year award.

Ernst &Young's Entrepreneur Of The Year program is now in its 22nd year globally and is in its second year in the Middle East. Its average winners run companies worth $350m or more in yearly revenues, with 20% annual growth and over 1,000 employees. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, it celebrates those who build and lead successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them in more than 135 cities in 50 countries.

In the Middle East this year, the sole broadcast sponsor for the program is Al Arabiya TV, the sole print media sponsor is Al-Iktissad Wal-Aamal, and the sole online sponsor is Zawya.com.